Wednesday—Holy Week

​Typically called “Silent Wednesday,” biblical scholars suggest that Jesus and his disciples rested in Bethany. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were jam-packed days for Jesus and his disciples; Thursday and Friday would be some of the most emotionally taxing days of the entire week. By God’s grace, they had a day of respite.
 
On this day, Judas most likely made the arrangements with the religious leaders to betray Jesus. “Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him” (Matthew 26:14–16, ESV).
 
Back in the 1980s, Christian youth were listening to the contemporary band Petra. They devoted one song to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
 
I wonder how it makes you feel when the prodigal won’t come home
I wonder how it makes you feel when he’d rather be on his own
I wonder what it’s like for you when a lamb has gone astray
I wonder what it’s like for you when your children disobey
 
I wonder how it makes you feel when no one seeks your face
I wonder how it makes you feel when they give up in the race
I wonder what it’s like for you when they willingly disobey
I wonder what it’s like for you when they willingly walk away
 
It must be like another thorn struck in your brow
It must be like another close friend’s broken vow
It must be like another nail right through your wrist
It must be just like
Just like Judas’ kiss
 
The song’s point is that we can look at Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and say, “How could anyone do such a thing?” and miss the fact that we make choices that betray our relationship with Jesus. Perhaps today, we need to stay close to Christ and rest in him instead of running off into the night, turning to the things that offend him.
 
Think about it on this “Silent Wednesday.”

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